20 December 2010: In a plenary session held on 20 December 2010, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Report of its Second Committee on sustainable development (A/65/436), which includes draft resolutions on “Protection of global climate for present and future generations of humankind” and “International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.”

The two resolutions on disaster reduction (65/157 and 65/158) urge the international community to implement the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; and call on the Secretary-General and UN bodies to adopt measures to further strengthen the International Research Centre on the El Niño phenomenon. After their adoption, Chile commented that the earthquake and hurricane that occurred in the country earlier in 2010 illustrated that investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) could save lives.

On climate protection, the UNGA adopted by consensus the draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee (65/159). By the resolution, the Assembly, inter alia: recognizes the urgency of addressing the challenge of climate change; calls upon States to take urgent global action to address climate change in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and other principles; takes note with appreciation of the offer of the Government of South Africa to host the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC and the seventh session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 7), to be held in 2011; recognizes that climate change poses serious risks and challenges to all countries, particularly developing countries; notes the ongoing work of the liaison group of the secretariats and offices of the subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and encourages close cooperation to enhance complementarities; and calls for efforts to address climate change in a manner that enhances the sustainable development and sustained economic growth of the developing countries and the eradication of poverty. [Report of Second Committee on Sustainable Development] [Addendum on Disaster Reduction (A/65/436/Add.3)] [Addendum on Protection of Global Climate (A/65/436/Add.4)]